Playing games on who goes to the Games

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It looks like U.S. Track and Field has got a bit of a mess on its hands, but nothing that can’t be solved with a shiny quarter.

During Saturday’s Olympic Trials, 200-meter two-time silver medalist Allyson Felix was trying to make the 2012 Olympic team in the women’s 100 meters. So was her training partner, Jeneba Tarmoh.

A lot was on the line, as these athletes train four years to get one shot on the big stage. All that matters is making the team because the two weeks at the London Olympics will be the only time anyone will see them or even care about track.

Either you make the top three or four years of hard work is wasted. Finish fourth and you are not being interviewed by Bob Costas on national television. Instead you are watching him host the Olympics from your view of the televisions as a new sales associate at Best Buy...